Moon-bound powerhouse

ESA's fourth European Service Module inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, on 31 July 2026.

This module will power Orion on Artemis IV, planned to be the first mission to return astronauts to the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Built by European industry under ESA leadership, the European Service Module is a truly pan-European effort. Its structure is produced by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, before final assembly and integration by Airbus in Bremen, Germany, with contributions from more than 100 suppliers across Europe.

After sailing from Europe aboard the BBC Livorno at the end of 2025, the module arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, where engineers connected it to the Crew Module Adapter, the structure that links Orion's crew and service modules.

In this image, the outer panels of the Crew Module Adapter have been removed to provide easier access during ongoing testing and assembly activities. The grey protective covering around the European Service Module shields the spacecraft's radiators and other sensitive hardware from dust, contamination and accidental damage while it remains in the cleanroom.

The European Service Module will provide Orion with propulsion, electrical power, thermal control, air and water, supporting the crew throughout their journey towards the Moon and back to Earth.